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Apicotermitinae
Typical Soldierless Termites and Allies
Apicotermitinae is a highly diverse subfamily of termites within Termitidae, comprising 64 genera and 236 species distributed across the Neotropical, Afrotropical, and Indomalayan realms. The subfamily is predominantly soil-feeding, with most species inhabiting diffuse subterranean nests. A defining feature of most Apicotermitinae is the evolutionary loss of the soldier caste, which occurred independently in at least two separate lineages. In the absence of soldiers, workers have evolved alternative defense mechanisms including increased aggression and autothysis.
soldierless-termitessoil-feedingautothysisdehiscent-organtermite-defensehumus-feedingNeotropicalAfrotropicalIndomalayansubterranean-nestsgut-morphologyenteric-valvemolecular-systematicsCOICOII16Sgregarine-parasitesRuptitermesSpeculitermesTriclavitermesDissimulitermesGrigiotermesAnoplotermes-groupCaatingaAtlantic-ForestWestern-GhatsCoptotermes
Coptotermes is a genus of subterranean termites in the family Rhinotermitidae, containing approximately 71 described species. The genus is thought to have originated in Southeast Asia and includes some of the world's most economically destructive termite pests, notably Coptotermes formosanus (Formosan subterranean termite) and C. gestroi (Asian subterranean termite). A 2013 consensus among 31 termite experts reduced the number of validated species from 69 to 21 based on morphological and molecular evidence, with many historical names suspected to be synonyms. Species in this genus exhibit complex social behaviors including age-based task division and unique nitrogen recycling strategies.
termitepestinvasivestructural-pestsubterraneanRhinotermitidaeHeterotermitidaeeconomic-pesturban-entomologycolonysocial-insectmoltingnitrogen-recyclingexuviaeage-polyethismFormosan-subterranean-termiteAsian-subterranean-termiteSoutheast-Asia-originwood-feedingcellulosegut-protozoalower-termiteevolutionary-transitiontunnelingforagingtrophallaxisproctodeal-trophallaxiscarton-nestAhamitermesparasitechitin-synthesis-inhibitorCSI-baitmolting-site-fidelityinvasive-speciesurban-peststructural-damagequarantineshippingrailroad-tiesmulchHawaiiFloridaLouisianaTaiwanJapanChinaPhilippinesAustraliatemperature-limitationhumidity-requirementcolony-sizeseveral-millionalatesswarmingnematode-associationvertical-transfermorphological-plasticitymolecular-identificationmitochondrial-DNACOII12S-rRNA16S-rRNAconsortium-taxonomytaxonomic-cold-casesynonymyWasmann-1896